Cleveland History
December 15, 1978 – Cleveland defaulted on $14 million in loans, becoming the first major U.S. city to default financially since the Great Depression. The crisis was triggered by economic decline and political tensions during Mayor Dennis Kucinich’s administration.
December 17, 1947 – WEWS-TV (Channel 5) aired its first broadcast, becoming Cleveland’s first commercial television station and the first TV station in Ohio. The station was a pioneer in local programming and media innovation.
World History
December 15, 1791 – The United States ratified the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, guaranteeing fundamental civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
December 16, 1773 – The Boston Tea Party took place when American colonists, protesting the Tea Act, boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, a key event leading to the American Revolution.
December 17, 1903 – Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful powered, controlled, and sustained flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, with the first flight lasting 12 seconds.
December 18, 1916 – After 302 days of fighting, the Battle of Verdun ended during World War I. It was one of the longest and costliest battles in history, with French and German casualties estimated at over 700,000.
December 20, 1989 – The United States launched Operation Just Cause, a military invasion of Panama to depose leader Manuel Noriega, who was later captured and taken to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.
